betsymccall.net Lifelong Learning Astronomy Planets Mars

While Venus is the closest planet to the Earth, its surface is also hot enough to melt lead, never mind the 90 atmospheres of pressure. That means that if we ever want to leave the Earth-Moon system, the first place we are likely to visit is Mars. Mars is a planet with grand canyons that make our Grand Canyon look small and trivial, and equally grand mountains that likewise dwarf the Himalayas. It is a planet of extremes, that may still allow some extremophile lifeforms to cling to existence in the permafrost where they might be protected from the radiation of space. We aren't likely to know until we get there and give the place a thorough once over.

Links:

Google Mars

Mars - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

NASA - Mars

NASA - Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter

Mars Introduction

Mars Exploration Rover Mission: Home

Mars Information, Planet Mars, The Planet Mars at SPACE.com

The Mars Society

Mars

Mars (mythology) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Phoenix Mars Mission - Home